Double plier for inserting gear unit



-April 24, 1962 Filed Aug. 28, 1959 H. I REGENNITTER DOUBLE PLIER FOR INSERT-ING GEAR UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 24, 1962 H. J. REGENNITTER DOUBLE PLIER FOR INSERTING GEAR UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 1959 HENRY J EszsA/Mrnm INVENTOR.

BY KL. W 2;

States Previous to my invention, real difiiculty has been encountered in the insertion of certain gear subassemblies into proper place in washing machine wringers and the like. These subassemblies consist of a central shaft on which gears are journalled for slidable movement. The gears are spring loaded in one direction, but for proper placement the springs must both be compressed approximately evenly so that the device may be placed in the housing.

Prior to my invention, this was a most clumsy hand operation, or was accomplished by expensive jigs or the like at the factory.

By my invention I provide an inexpensive hand tool by which the local washer repairman may assemble or disassemble the wringer gear mechanism with ease and safety.

A more complete understanding of my invention in its embodiment may be had from a study of the following specification and the figures in which,

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the tool of my invention,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the long lever of the tool separated from the rest of the assembly,

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 of the short lever, and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view similar to FIGURE 1 of the tool in use.

Briefly my invention comprises a double pliers-like tool which can be used to embrace parts of a spring loaded sub-assembly to hold the assembly and to compress the springs so that the subassembly may be inserted into place in the final assembly.

More specifically, and with reference to the figures, my device comprises generally two pairs of levers or two pliers, each consisting of a longer lever 10 and a shorter 'lever 11. Each longer lever has a forked end 1 adapted to engage the hub 12' or similar portion of the gears '13 to be assembled (see FIGURE 4). Similar forked ends 2 are provided on the shorter levers for a similar purpose as will be explained hereinafter.

Each shorter lever 11 is pivoted to the longer lever at a point 6 between the forked end 2 and a handle end 4. This handle end may be bent somewhat as illustrated for better grip.

The longer levers 10 of the two pairs are pivoted together at a point 5. This point is more remote from the forked ends 1 than the pivot point 6 of the shorter lever 11 with the longer lever 10. In other words, each pivot point 6 is between the forked end 1 and the pivot point of the two longer levers. Further, all pivot points are arranged so that the forked ends 1 and 2 of both levers are substantially co-axial. It will be apparent that while I have described the ends as forked, in my proposed use, they must necessarily be such, still an end having other work-holding means might be used on a work-piece having somewhat different conformation than the particular one illustrated. Therefore, I prefer to refer to the forked ends as work-engaging ends.

The longer levers extend beyond the pivot point 5 away from the work engaging ends 1 to a handle end 3. Again, I prefer to bend the lever as at 15, so that the handle ends will not be too widely separated. Between the handle ends 3 of the longer levers I provide a holding device which may take the form of a tension spring 8 engaged in holes 9 to urged the handle ends together.

The operation of my device can best be described in conjunction with FIGURE 4. In this figure I show my atent O 3,030,701 Patented Apr. 24, 1962 double plier in use with a work piece 16 having a central bushing 17 through which a hidden shaft extends in both directions. The gears 13 may be slidably mounted on the shaft, and are spaced from the bushing 17 by hubs 18. Slidably mounted on the hubs are rings 20 which are pressed toward the bushing 17 by compression springs 21. In the final assembly, it is necessary for the bushing 17 and the rings 20 to be spaced apart by certain control cams (not shown). It is the difliculty of obtaining this spacing in the final assembly which my device avoids.

As is apparent from the drawing, the work piece 16 is held between the forked ends 1 of the longer levers 10, which ends are engaged with the hubs 12 as previously stated. The spring 8 by its pulling of the ends 3 together (FIGURE 1) keeps sufiicient compressive pressure on the forked ends 1 to hold the piece in a stable position and relationship of its component parts.

When the tool is applied to the work piece, the forked ends 2 are inserted between the bushing 17 and the rings 20. In this position the sub-assembly or work piece can be carried to its final location. Hand gripping pressure on the handle ends 4 of the shorter levers 11 will now serve to compress the springs 21 and space the ring 20 from the bushing 17 sufiiciently to allow the cams to enter therebetween, and the entire sub-assembly can be slipped into place without further concern. After the sub-assembly is placed, the tool can be easily removed by relieving the pressures on the forked ends and sliding it out.

Having thus described my invention in its embodiment I am aware that further and extensive variations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. For holding a gear unit including a central shaft, two outer gears on said shaft and compression springs about said shaft between said gears, a plier means comprising two longer levers pivotally connected together between the ends thereof, each of said levers having at one end a forked end adapted to engage one of said gears, holding means engaging said levers at the end of each lever opposite its forked end to urge said forked ends into compressive engagement with said gears, a shorter lever pivotally connected to each of said longer levers at a point between the forked end of said longer levers and the pivot point between said two longer levers, said shorter levers each having a forked end adapted to embrace said shaft and to engage said compression springs whereby pressure on one end of said shorter levers will move said forked ends on said shorter levers to compress said springs, said forked ends, all being substantially coaxial with each other.

2. A double plier comprising two longer levers pivotally connected near their midpoint, each of said levers having a work engaging end and a handle end, .said work engaging ends being adapted to hold a work piece when said handle ends are pressed together, a shorter lever pivotally connected to each of said longer levers at a point between said work engaging end of said lever and the pivot point between said longer levers, each of said shorter levers having a handle end and a work engaging end, said work engaging ends of said shorter levers being between the work engaging ends of said longer levers, each of said work engaging ends of said shorter levers being adjacent a corresponding work engaging end of the longer lever to which that shorter lever is connected whereby pressure on the handle ends of said shorter levers tend to move the work engaging ends of said shorter lever toward the corresponding end of said longer lever.

3. A double plier comprising a pair of longer levers, each of said levers having a work engaging end and a D handle end, said longer levers being pivotally connected together at a pivot point between said handle end and Work engaging ends, said work engaging ends being formed to hold a work piece when said handle ends are shorter levers are disposed between the work engaging ends of said longer levers whereby pressure on said handle ends of said shorter levers tends to move said work engaging ends of said shorter levers toward the work pressed together, holding means engaged between said 5 engaging ends of said longer levers.

handle ends tending to hold said handle ends together, a shorter lever pivotally connected to each of said longer levers, each of said shorter levers also having a work engaging end and a handle end, said last named handle ends being arranged so that a single hand can operate both- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 101,371 Maund Mar. 29, 1870 2,367,552 Ahrndt Jan. 16, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 709,004 France May 11, 1931 

